RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current

Events

(By Kickshaws.)

The only thing that seems capable of ousting Laval is an admission of a franc failure.

A bridge may be used to span chasms, as one expert declares, but the game quite often has the opposite effect.

A biographer says that Kreuger was a shy man. If we understand matters correctly he was, in fact, shy of some twenty million pounds.

"Being an interested reader of your column, may I ask you for a little information regarding the meaning of Maori place-names'?” says “F.A.S.” “What is the meaning of ‘OhingaitL’ and ‘Paraparaumu’; Do you know of a book which could be consulted about tbe determining of other Maori, names such as the above?” (“Every Place in New Zealand” (Scholefield) gives the following mean. Ings: Ohingaiti, “resting place”"; Paraparaumu, “old cooking place.” No meaning, as mentioned by another reader making a similar inquiry, is given for Manawatu. Perhaps some Maori expert might care to help?]

“All we hope is that the Squire will have sufficient strength to rail? as he did before,” said one of the King’s employees at Sandringham, after reading the latest bulletin. The whole Empire, indeed the whole world, will be wishing the Squire a quick recovery. It is a tribute to the King that he is known by such a name. Probably it is the simplest title he holds. Kings have always many titles and King George is no exception. It would require almost a whole column to give the complete list of all the names and titles by which K]ng George is known. To his grandchildren he is just plain Grandpa. On formal occasions lie is His Most Excellent Majesty George Frederick Ernest Albert of Windsor. On State documents he is George the Fifth, by the Grace of God of Great Britain; Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. In the Navy he is Admiral of the Fleet, But that is not his only sea title. King George is also a n Elder Brother of Trinity House.

His Majesty’s recent illness, it is said, has been partly due to the fact that since his last illness he has for seven years carried on unremittingly the duties of his high station. The truth is that the King is a hard worker. His capacity for work usually passes unnoticed by his subjects. The public hears nothing of the ordinary routine work of a king of England. This routine work has more than trebled since the Great War. Wherever he goes it follows him. The King normally rises at 7 a.m. After a cup of coffee he works for an hour before taking his bath and dressing. At nine he breakfasts. Routine work begins at 10 a.m. and continues until 7 p.m.. with two hours’ respite. Even in the midst of recreation, State papers find their way into his busy hands. On many occasions the King has had to divert his attention from shootihg grouse to signing documents. Even when he is apparently on holiday at Sandringham be takes with him the cares of State. A special telephone line connects Sandringham with London.

One can well believe that all those people who visit Sandringham to read the latest bulletin stand for a moment to gaze across tbe snow to the window behind which the King is fighting for his life. It is, however no mere coincidence that, the sleeping quarters, of the King of England are plainly visible from outside. It is. in fact, laid down iu the Constitution that they shall be. His windows must always be plainly visible from outside, and police officers take turns all night to watch the windows. If the King mov.es for a change to some temporary residence he cannot sleep there until tbe necessary alterations bdve been made. .Moreover, the King’s personal suite of rooms must always be completely self-contained so that a servant may be on duty at the only entrance te observe everyone who enters. Moreover, elaborate precautions have always tq bo made in case of fire. The King is not permitted to sleep in a room that has. not at least three alternative means of escape. Naturally when the King is ill special precautions hare to be made. TVlien King Edward lay ill it was practically impossible for anybody to enter tbe Palace unauthorised.

One of the nurses who is attending on the King, it is reported, nursed him back to health when he was seriously ill seven years ago. Ou that occasion there were four nurses in attendance:—Nurse Purdie, who is English, Nurse Gordon, who is Scottish, Nurse Black, who is Irish, and Nurse Davies, who is Welsh. The nurses are not chosen by Lord Dawson, but are selected after a careful consultation. Sister Black, who is again attending the King, comes from the London Hospital. She was selected on the last occasion from a staff of 700. As regard medical advisers, the King’s medical household consists of 19 eminent experts, covering all branches of the profession, as well as two surgeon dentists. Lord Dawson and Sir E. Farquhar Buzzard are the Physicians in Ordinary. Alfred Ryle. M.D., Is the normal physician to the household. The Surgeon Apothecary at Sandringham is Sir Frederic Jeune TVillans. Naturally other experts, in addition to the Household medical experts, are called in when required. In times of crisis selected medical experts, moreover, remain permanently at the Royal Palaeo

It is a somewhat curious fact that the King,of England, not being permitted to be treated at a hospital, is at times under disadvantages that are not borne even by his humblest subjects. For example when it became necessary for His Majesty to receive special ray treatment during his previous illness the apparatus bad to come to him on a special lorry. It was placed outside the window and the treatment carried ou inside. In the same way if delicate operations are necessary not all the Royal palaces are equipped with operating theatres. In addition to bis medical advisers in England, his Majesty also has advisers iu Scotland. There are 10 medical experts who hold themselves in readiness to attend the King in that country, and two dental exqierts. The li§t includes no fewer than rive surgeons and an oculist Other members of tlie Royal Family also appoint their own medical experts. The Prince of Wales, for example, has live, the Duke of Kent one, the Duke of Connaught two. Incidentally when the King of England is ill he pays all expenses out of his private income. The country he rules contributes, nothing.